A $1.1-billion response to the death and destruction of Hurricane Katrina has been named the year’s most outstanding engineering achievement in the 46th Annual Engineering Excellence Awards—a juried national competition sponsored by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).

More than 600 attended the black-tie Engineering Excellence Awards Gala, held last week in Washington, D.C., which recognized 147 preeminent engineering achievements from throughout the world.

In August 2005, one of the largest recorded storm surges in U.S. history—over 25 feet— entered the confluence of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet and Gulf Intracoastal Waterway during Hurricane Katrina, overtopping a 4,000-foot-long levee section and causing widespread flooding, destruction and death in the New Orleans region.

The new Lake Borgne Surge Barrier—designed by Tetra Tech INCA of Bellevue, Wash., is a concrete and steel defense against any future Katrina-like assault. At 26 feet tall and nearly two miles long, it is the largest surge barrier of its kind in the world. Built to withstand a once in a 100-year storm surge event, the new surge barrier effectively moves the first line of storm-surge defense more than 12 miles away from downtown New Orleans, and is now a model for floodgate and floodwall design worldwide.

• Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort, Singapore, by Arup—the new tourist destination in the heart of Marina Bay features three 55-story, asymmetrically curved luxury hotels, each topped and connected by a 2.5-acre landscaped rooftop, which is the world’s largest cantilevered public space.

• U.S. Highway 82 Mississippi River Bridge, Washington County, Miss., by HNTB Corporation—a new 2,500-foot-long, three-span cable-stayed bridge that becomes the third longest of its type in the U.S., and a dazzling successor to the 1940s-era bridge it replaced.

• Co-Digestion/Combined Heat and Power Improvements, Johnstown, N.Y., by Malcolm Pirnie, The Water Division of Arcadis—the first U.S. wastewater treatment plant that operates entirely on power recovered from the treatment processes—making it a “net zero” energy facility.

• Elwha River Restoration, City of Port Angeles and Clallam County, Wash., by URS Corporation—the second largest National Park Service river restoration project in U.S. history prevents adverse environmental impact from 18 million cubic yards of trapped sediment during removal of two obsolete 1900s-era hydroelectric dams.

• Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge, San Diego, Calif., by T.Y. Lin International—a graceful new 550-foot pedestrian bridge that is one of the longest self-anchored suspension bridges in the world, and a striking new gateway to downtown San Diego.

The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) is the business association of America’s engineering industry, representing more than 5,000 independent engineering companies throughout the United States engaged in the development of America’s transportation, water and energy infrastructure, along with environmental, industrial and other public and private facilities. Founded in 1909 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., ACEC is a national federation of 51 state and regional organizations.

“The ‘Influential Woman of the Year’ award is designed to shine a spotlight on the great leadership demonstrated by women in the trucking industry,” said Anne Belec, vice president and chief marketing officer, Navistar. “Rochelle’s dedication to trucking and her personal commitment to mentoring other women is exactly what we set out to celebrate.”

“We are excited to honor a woman who has been so influential in the trucking industry,” said Ellen Voie, president of Women In Trucking, “Rochelle is proof that women are achieving great things in all trucking professions, from drivers to accountants to CEOs. Rochelle’s story of tripling CalArk’s revenues while at the same time mentoring other women and raising a family is an inspiration as WIT furthers our mission to celebrate the success of women in what has traditionally been a very male-dominated industry.”

Gorman accepted her award immediately following a panel discussion about overcoming the challenges women often face in the trucking industry.

“Women today have the opportunity to lift each other up in ways that provide inspiration, leadership and encouragement that may not have existed when I entered the industry,” said Gorman. “We are now trusted to promote the good and positive of the trucking industry.”

“Navistar is proud to sponsor this award with the Women In Trucking Association to promote and recognize the leadership of influential women in our industry,” said Phyllis Cochran, president, Navistar Parts. “It is important to Navistar that the trucking industry attracts the best and brightest from a diverse pool of talent. With that goal in mind, Navistar will continue to sponsor the ‘Influential Woman’ award moving forward.”

The “Influential Woman of the Year” award seeks to recognize a woman in the trucking industry who makes or influences key decisions in a corporate, manufacturing, supplier, owner-operator, driver, sales or dealership setting. Other criteria for the award include demonstrating a record of responsibility and success in mentoring other women.

“We are very pleased with the response to the first year of this award and our judges had a difficult time selecting a winner from more than 30 well-qualified nominees” Voie added. “Our goal is to continue to build on the momentum with a call for 2012 nominations late this summer.”